SO, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO I AM...

A Little About Me

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Hello, my name is Jessa Mendiola (she/her/hers). I am in the School Library Media Program at Dominican University. I will graduate with a Master's Degree and a teaching license at the end of Spring 2024. I started my library career as a Patron Services Associate at Hinsdale Public Library, where I worked for about a year and a half. I also interned at Westmont Public Library. Currently, I am a full-time library and technology assistant at an intermediate elementary school. I just started my third school year with the district, and it has been quite the journey. I will leave the school at the end of December because I have to student-teach in the Spring. If you have any tips for student teaching, I would greatly appreciate them. 

My hobbies include reading, caring for my houseplants, and trying new food. I also love to paint and create artwork. I have an undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois in Chicago. This summer, I was part of the group show called the 1st Asian Pacific Heritage Festival in Arts at Zhou B Art Center. Last year, I was in the Kitchen Table Stories Exhibition at Evanston Art Center. I also worked with the Eye Eaters Society, which plans these social gatherings that bring culinary and visual artists together. They paired me with Kasama, the first Michelin Star Filipino Restaurant. I showcased my artwork, while Tim Flores created a three-course meal around them. If you are interested in my artwork, please check out my website at jessamaemendiola.com. 

I also love to travel. In early August 2023, my boyfriend and I went to Anchorage, Alaska. We spent most of our time learning about the culture and history of the city, learning about tribes who live in Alaska, and hiking many of the trails in Chugach State Park. One of my favorite views is on an under-a-mile walk at Eagle River Nature Center, where you have these gorgeous views of the mountains. 

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However, my favorite experience was on a one-hour cruise with MV Ptarmigan, which brought us within 400 feet of the Portage Glacier. If you would like to book a trip, please see the website at https://www.graylinealaska.com/sightseeing/portage-glacier-cruise-tour-self-drive/. 

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My Relationship with Technology

I use technology in my personal and professional life. I have many social media accounts, including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. I mostly post on Instagram and Snapchat. Most of the time, I am scrolling through social media apps, sometimes much longer than I need to be. I also use technology for entertainment. I listen to music on Spotify. I watch movies and shows on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Max. I access audiobooks, ebooks, and other reading materials on Audible, Hoopla, Libby, and Webtoon. I also use Google Home to control my thermostat and answer my questions. Plus, if I did not have Google Maps, I would not be able to find my way around. I have a horrible sense of direction. 

At work, half of my job duties lie in technology. The staff and students use technology daily, and it is my job to help fix any issues. If the Library Media Specialist and I cannot fix the problem, we pass it on to the district technology personnel. We use a wide range of technology, like 3D printers, projectors, printers, iPads, laminators, cameras, and green screens. As for software, we need Google Classroom and Clever to teach, share, and inform parents and students. Plus, I need the Internet to access the library catalog. One software that teachers and technology staff primarily use is GoGuardian. We use it as a classroom management tool to monitor student activity. It allows teachers and technology staff to see what students are doing on their screens. The teachers can also allow or block specific sites during a class session. However, only the technology staff can block and allow sites at the district level. The technology staff can also track websites students visit on their devices, the chronological timeline and time spent on each site, and the browsing history.

I never thought about whether I use technology or if technology uses me. I know as one of the older members of Gen Z, I would not be able to live without technology and the Internet. I admit social media controls me due to its addictive nature. However, we live in a digital world, and technology will continue to be in our lives. Many of the older workers at work think that since I am so young, I must be amazing at technology. However, I am not a master at it. Like so many people, I struggle to keep up with the fast changes in technology, but I am more than open to trying new things. At the moment, I am taking a class on integrating technology into programming, services, and instruction. The following gift shows my excitement in taking the class because it will directly impact my job. I am excited to dive into how to integrate technology into education, stay up to date with different tools, and learn effective technological methods to improve teaching and promote student learning.

 

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If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask in the comments below.